A Time For Togetherless

Here we are, a week away from Thanksgiving and on the cusp of another statewide "shut down" due to Covid. Our kids, who had been attending school in person since August, have been home again for a few weeks. Even saying that demonstrates the reality of a "new normal." The fact that I even have to differentiate between attending school in-person or not seems like a normal part of life that was unheard of in 2019.

After our own round of Covid tests and illness-scares, I am calmer in the fact that we may be forced back inside and encouraged to isolate as a family within these walls. I feel a little like Punxsutawney Phil who has poked his head out and decided it is not yet safe. We have not yet weathered the worst of the storm and whether we like it or not, we will have at least 6 more weeks of this winter.

It's hard to put aside my normal routine of Christmas planning, ensuring that grandparents got their fill of the grandkids and making time for all our family traditions. But there is no way you could get me to stand in-line to meet Santa during a global pandemic. We will be skipping the city tree lighting and baking cookies for neighbors because if in-person schooling is in question, everything else feels like a luxury.

I guess this is my way of apologizing for not being sorry for staying home. We can facetime and zoom and we will see you all in 2021!